MX vs. ATV Alive was released to mixed reviews; its PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions attained an aggregate score of 61 and 63 on Metacritic, respectively.

Much of its criticism was directed towards the game's intentional lack of much initial content due to its DLC-oriented structure.

[9] GameZone gave the game a 7.5/10, considering it to be "an enjoyable, competent off-road racer that succeeds due to its impressive style but struggles from some glaring limitations".

While its overall gameplay was considered to be enjoyable and comparable to an arcade-style game, graphical glitches were seen once in a while, and the lack of courses resulting from their slow unlock time led to a repetitive experience.

[10] GameSpot and IGN praised the aggressive racing, varied track designs, and player customization options, while criticizing the lack of a career mode, lack of gameplay modes, and frustrating unlock system.